The Planning
& Zoning Department is available to assist the public in
obtaining information regarding use and physical development of land
in the county, and some municipalities, and to review the development
plans for conformance with the county's Zoning and Land Use ordinances.

We are open
Monday - Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm except on official holidays. We are
in the 'old Ag building' at 1512 Martin Street which runs parallel to
Main Street between Calhoun and Lindsay Streets in historic downtown Newberry.

We accept cash
or checks for payment. We can conduct our business remotely, however,
not so efficiently as in person.

We enforce the
Zoning and Land Use Ordinances and the DHEC StormWater Management
Code for the county.

We provide
administrative support for the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Joint
Planning Commission, the Town of Prosperity and Town of Little
Mountain zoning requests.

We also stamp
plats for compliance with zoning minimum requirements prior to
recording at the Clerk of Court Office.

In accordance
with the South Carolina Local Government Comprehensive Planning
Enabling Act of 1994, this office updates the Comprehensive Plan for
Newberry County each 10 years with reviews at 5 years.

We do not
consider any of your questions to be 'stupid'. The permitting process
can be complicated and we can help guide you through this process,
and perhaps help you avoid some unpleasant surprises.

Please call or e-mail us with your concerns.

Additional Information

From Section 400 of the Newberry County
Zoning Ordinance: "No building, structure, or land shall
hereafter be used or occupied, and no building, structure or part
thereof shall hereafter be erected, constructed, reconstructed, moved
or structurally altered unless in conformity with the regulations
specified in this Ordinance for the district in which it is located."

A Zoning Permit is required before obtaining
a Building Permit for a structure. Click
HERE
for Structure Information Sheet andHERE
for the FORM.

A Zoning Permit is required before moving a
Manufactured Home in Newberry County. ClickHERE
for Manufactured Home information sheetandHEREfor
the form.

If you have lake shore property or property
that may be in a FEMA flood zone, please click
HERE to link to access the Flood
Management Department.

A Sign Permit is obtained from this office.
Click HEREfor
Sign information sheet and HEREfor
form.

The zoning districts are
areas that have certain similar uses and setbacks from the property
lines for those uses and related structures.

How do I find out my zoning district?

Either e-mail or call us
with, in order of preference, the Tax Map #, the street address or
name of property owner. We will look it up on our zoning maps and
answer any further questions you may have.

How do I report a violation?

E-mail or call us with the
address and/or nature of the violation. A county ordinance ensures
you will remain anonymous. The Code Enforcement officers will visit
the alleged violation site and document their visit before
enforcement procedures start.

What are setbacks?

Setbacks are the distance in
feet that a structure or use must be from the property lines. The
setbacks vary with zoning districts and uses within zoning districts

Water in the creek or lake is
being contaminated by sediment from new construction. What can be
done about this?

Call (803) 321-2166 and the
DHEC StormWater Manager will visit the site to document and follow up
on the problem.

Do I need a permit?

Most likely, YES! Call (803)
321-2166 to ask.

What do I need for a permit?

Please bring a copy of your
recorded plat of the property, the DHEC permit if you have are
installing a septic system, your 911 address, and $20 cash or check
for each permit.

Where do I get these things?

A copy of the recorded plat
may be obtained at the Clerk to Court Office in the Courthouse; the
911 address may be obtained from the Sheriff's 911 Addressing
department at the Sheriff's complex on Wilson Road; and the DHEC
permit from the office on Wilson Road at Smith in the town of Newberry

I have received a letter from the
Planning and Zoning office?

This office will send letters
to notify property owners of some proposed change to adjacent
property, or that there has been a perceived violation found on their
property. If clarification is needed, please call (803) 321-2166.

Can I set up any Manufactured Home?

Newberry County only permits
HUD Certified Manufactured Homes to be set up. Any home older than
July 15th, 1976 is prohibited from being moved into the county or
have power turned back on after a lapse of 6 months.

What does a zoning inspection involve?

A zoning Code Enforcement
officer will visit your property and measure from the flags placed,
or structure itself, to the property lines for compliance.

What will happen if I do not get
a permit?

After careful review of the
structure to verify no permit being issued, a series of actions will
be followed as written in the ordinance to bring the structure into
compliance. This can be much more expensive than the initial permit itself.

What is the Board of Zoning Appeals?

The Board of Zoning Appeals
is a citizen board that reviews Administrative Appeals, Variances and
Special Exceptions to the Zoning Ordinance in a Public Hearing held
at 5:30 PM on the 1st Tuesday of each month in Council Chambers in
the Newberry Courthouse Annex.

What is the Joint Planning Commission?

The Joint Planning Commission
is a citizen board that represents the county and some municipalities
reviews and makes recommendations to County Council about re-zonings,
or text changes to the zoning ordinance. The Commission also reviews
the plans developers present under the Land Use Ordinance. The
meetings are at 6:00PM on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in the
Conference Room in the Newberry Courthouse Annex.

How do I apply to go in front of
the Board of Zoning Appeals or the Joint Planning Commission?

The Planning & Zoning
Department will handle the appropriate forms that are required for
placement on the agenda for you.

What is a Certificate of Compliance?

This is the paper that states
that the placement or use of a structure on the property is in
compliance with the zoning ordinance.

The septic system is already in
the ground, so do I need to show my permit?

Yes! If you do not have it at
hand, go to the DHEC office on Wilson Road for a copy there. They
will need the name of the property owner when the system was installed.

The septic system is old, does
that matter?

Yes! We will need a letter
from a septic system installer that the system is still functional.

I do not own the property. Can I
still apply for a permit or get on the Joint Planning Commission's or
the Board of Zoning Appeals' agendas?

Yes! We will need all the
property owner's signatures that you are the designated agent and the
department has the forms for various situations.